Dorchester man held without bail on Worcester assault, arson charges

WORCESTER — A Dorchester man was ordered held without bail Thursday on charges of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend and later setting a fire in her Fairfax Road apartment.

Helder D. Semedo, 21, was arraigned Thursday in Central District Court on charges of arson of a dwelling house, aggravated assault and battery, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife), threatening to commit a crime, witness intimidation and vandalism of property.

Police and prosecutors allege that Mr. Semedo assaulted his girlfriend Dec. 11 in her apartment at 73 Fairfax Road and later placed cardboard and toilet paper on her bed and set the items ablaze.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was determined to have been set, according to court records.

While investigating the arson, detectives said they learned of the assault on Mr. Semedo's girlfriend that allegedly preceded the fire.

Police allege Mr. Semedo assaulted his girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, telling her he did not want the baby. He then allegedly smashed the woman's phones and computer and put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.

When a baby in the apartment began to cry, Mr. Semedo allegedly put a knife to the infant's throat and told his girlfriend to get in the car so he could kill all of them.

A warrant for Mr. Semedo's arrest was issued Feb. 28. On Wednesday, Mr. Semedo allegedly made a statement to police implicating himself in the Dec. 11 fire.

According to court documents, Mr. Semedo acknowledged damaging his girlfriend's property during an altercation that preceded the fire. Later, after falling asleep and awakening to find his girlfriend gone, Mr. Semedo said, he set fire to the items he placed on her bed and left without reporting the blaze, according to police.

At least six families lived in the apartment building at 73 Fairfax Road, police said.

Judge Janet J. McGuiggan entered not-guilty pleas on Mr. Semedo's behalf and ordered him held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing requested by Assistant District Attorney Roberta A. O'Brien. The dangerousness hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.